The Work of the Holy Spirit

July 19, 2022

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you (John 16:13-14).

Just as Jesus came to reveal to mankind the truth concerning God the Father, so the Holy Spirit has come to reveal to mankind the truth concerning Jesus Christ. Everything about the life and ministry of Jesus was about the Father - He lived in complete obedience to the will and word of the Father, He lived in complete fellowship with the Father, what the Father wanted Jesus to speak, that’s what He spoke, etc.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to lead people into all truth. Truth in this instance is not a philosophical idea, but the reality of things, especially the reality of Jesus Christ, His Word, His will, His plan and purpose for salvation, etc. Unlike the emphasis of several religious groups today, the Holy Spirit has not come to draw attention to Himself, but to Jesus. What Jesus would have Him speak to the understanding of man, that’s what He speaks. (Matthew 10:19-20) But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Acts 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Ephesians 6:18-20) . . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak

The leading of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life is always consistent with the will of Jesus Christ. He will never lead the Christian to say or do what is contrary to the Word or will of Jesus. (Ephesians 5:17-18) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom for the Christian to live and act in accordance with God’s will. (Colossians 3:12-17) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. This catalogue of attitudes, attributes, and actions in the Christian life is the result of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit which produces the fruit of the Spirit in the Christian life (Galatians 5:22-23). Amen.

Pastor Martin

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